tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22329768.post2936819184631887102..comments2023-10-29T20:20:10.914+10:00Comments on Random Hypercritical Thoughts: Do our leaders even care about this power crisis, MV 30Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16129588857193564261noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22329768.post-1271233024040446252008-04-18T04:17:00.000+10:002008-04-18T04:17:00.000+10:00Or maybe it just seems strange and inconsistent to...Or maybe it just seems strange and inconsistent to close some schools because there is no power and water and not others, dickweed. <BR/><BR/>I'm not getting any break. The school year is a day longer. In fact, the government just got a free half a day out of me.Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16129588857193564261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22329768.post-86303949554313849852008-04-17T22:12:00.000+10:002008-04-17T22:12:00.000+10:00Not a bad column, I do have a problem with your co...Not a bad column, I do have a problem with your comment concerning your wife working at school, “They kept her at school all day. Who knows why?” Hum, I’m assuming she signed a contract requiring her to work a set number of hours a day at the school. Maybe parents need to see her during non instructional times? Maybe she plans lessons after school? Maybe the administration has certain duties and responsibilities required of teachers and staff during non instructional time? Ring a bell Jeff? Maybe contractual agreements don’t seem to matter to you. By you saying that it implies that you leave school whenever it suits you. 190 days a year 40 hours a week. Not a bad gig if you ask me. Guess maybe you negotiated a different contract. And all your rants about elitism and inefficient government employees with no accountability only apply to non PSS government employees? What a guy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22329768.post-22138642045026827542008-04-17T12:37:00.000+10:002008-04-17T12:37:00.000+10:00My memory, ballpark figures, is that Babauta was s...My memory, ballpark figures, is that Babauta was spending at like 220 million. While a lot of the tough choices continue not to be made and a lot of the most essential services are still underserved, I'm not sure every old pol in the same boat would cut the budget down to the 160s and going lower where we are now. Fitial could be better, could be worse here, but I have very low expectations for wise financial planning when it comes to this place. I still think he's a bit more prudent than Babauta.Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16129588857193564261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22329768.post-45561645389430102372008-04-17T12:17:00.000+10:002008-04-17T12:17:00.000+10:00Good column/post, Jeff.I disagree with the bit abo...Good column/post, Jeff.<BR/><BR/>I disagree with the bit about our current governor being better at managing the budget, though. He makes a great show of "austerity" and cutting back on the little government worker, but he's got his consultants hired at nice salaries, too. And spends money on lobbying.<BR/><BR/>Word on the street (and I'm not saying this is reliable, but could be) is that the Governor is not moving to help fix CUC because he wants the leverage its problems create. He wants an austerity budget that gives him 100% discretionary control over all austerity savings. No strings, no watchdogs. The $125,000 discretionary fund from the savings proposed by the legislature wasn't enough for him. That's why he vetoed the austerity measure. And that's why he won't offer government help to CUC until he gets what he wants.<BR/><BR/>That is not fiscally beneficial to the CNMI.<BR/><BR/>jmho.Saipan Writerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10030098267460841286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22329768.post-899858570365617842008-04-17T10:21:00.000+10:002008-04-17T10:21:00.000+10:00There was a time, either late '90's or early this ...There was a time, either late '90's or early this decade when CUC was real close to hiring a power plant pro, a Samoan guy I think who had worked for a decade-plus managing plants in Hawaii. Members of the legislature led by Senor "Why Not" shot the employment contract down saying there's no reason that a qualified local resident cannot be found/hired to run CUC. And now here we are. Once again, pride and common sense got in the way of progress.SteeleOnSaipanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08670956825971149563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22329768.post-82265041708125683172008-04-16T18:25:00.000+10:002008-04-16T18:25:00.000+10:00Like the White House and the State House!Like the White House and the State House!Angelo Villagomezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00970383305205702533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22329768.post-40730636331302238732008-04-16T14:54:00.000+10:002008-04-16T14:54:00.000+10:00Jeff..We would do well to keep people with your pr...Jeff..<BR/><BR/>We would do well to keep people with your prolific knack for iterating hard truths talking and on island...you strike certain chords that most cannot with your writing...<BR/><BR/>Left winged and disgruntled though you may be...there is a place and a need for your kind.. keep writing, JimboAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22329768.post-9399132092488992152008-04-16T10:13:00.000+10:002008-04-16T10:13:00.000+10:00You should see about writing for Greg; your style'...You should see about writing for Greg; your style's more entertaining and I hear there's some turnover.<BR/><BR/>Slogan for the general election: <I>It's the power, stupid.</I> Unless it's fixed by then.<BR/><BR/>Ho.KAPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15541898442936527367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22329768.post-37462623215099719812008-04-16T09:22:00.000+10:002008-04-16T09:22:00.000+10:00Oh yeah Mike, if you can moonlight as a bikini gir...Oh yeah Mike, if you can moonlight as a bikini girl photographer with two little ones, I am going to work in the occasional snorkel/dive/spa.Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16129588857193564261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22329768.post-12296198518467126222008-04-16T09:19:00.000+10:002008-04-16T09:19:00.000+10:00They kept her at school all day. Who knows why.They kept her at school all day. Who knows why.Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16129588857193564261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22329768.post-84935153305326296452008-04-16T09:17:00.000+10:002008-04-16T09:17:00.000+10:00Well said Jeff but where do you get the time to sn...Well said Jeff but where do you get the time to snorkel the Grotto, hang out at a spa and write so much - Your wife is 9 months pregnant so she might have kicked you out of the house.<BR/><BR/>Wait till the little one is here - kiss your spa's goodbye for at least six months!scubatripphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07503265598968789965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22329768.post-85312761161860938122008-04-16T02:22:00.000+10:002008-04-16T02:22:00.000+10:00Well said, Jeff. One of your best.Well said, Jeff. One of your best.glend558https://www.blogger.com/profile/17230710369170158416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22329768.post-13211214237994506602008-04-16T01:28:00.000+10:002008-04-16T01:28:00.000+10:00Jeff, superb letter. Thank you for saying what ne...Jeff, superb letter. Thank you for saying what needed to be said. Perhaps you could give Greg Cruz some writing tips, and maybe, just maybe he will pen his own letter for once. Not!Marianas Pridehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16214013139672445725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22329768.post-55910945314796222962008-04-16T01:11:00.000+10:002008-04-16T01:11:00.000+10:00"...one colorful set of clown shoes away from sign..."...one colorful set of clown shoes away from signing on with the circus". Now, that's a putdown.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22329768.post-56280818402869195702008-04-15T22:49:00.000+10:002008-04-15T22:49:00.000+10:00Well the lunch was good and Rick's generator was s...Well the lunch was good and Rick's generator was still humming so we could go round and round. <BR/><BR/>I wound up spending the whole afternoon putzing with one office call after another. I got it all done but snorkeling at the Grotto sounds like a lot more fun.Bruce A. Batemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03804747424525560858noreply@blogger.com